Google home mini vs echo dot from amazon ???

About the assistants

Google Assistant and Alexa are staunch enemies, being one of many points of competition between Google and Amazon. Based on the assumption that the virtual assistants of both companies were born the same year (2014) and since then the competition has been fierce for overcoming each other. The differences lie rather between the subtleties of the small details. Google Home Mini was released in 2017, while the third generation Echo Dot was not released until 2018. This only reinforces the pre-existing concept of "if you have, I more", so let's get into trouble.

Design: two different approaches

In the aspect of the device itself, both have proportions and a similar appearance. For these "reduced" versions compared to their older brothers, both companies have sought an organic design with curved shapes and small size. Google offers four color variants in Home Mini: Chalk White, Charcoal Gray, Light Blue and Salmon; while Echo Dot can be found in anthracite, light gray and dark gray.

Colors Google Home Mini

Another aspect to compare of the design is the greater minimalism of Google compared to Amazon in terms of buttons. Home Mini has reduced them to their minimum expression. They are hidden under the cover fabric or near the base, while in Echo Dot they are clearly visible in their upper area. They are two solutions focused on the same type of problems, only that Amazon has a more analog touch while Google seems to want to emulate companies like Apple with touch buttons that work by sensor.

Apart from this, both devices have a fabric mesh covering their speakers and that is the one that provides the greatest color change to each of the models. In both cases the material and final result is very similar and this is further emphasized by its circular design. Taking into account that they are devices created to emit sound in a 360º radius, in both cases this decision is a wise one.

The issue of lighting is another aspect to deal with. In the case of Google Home Mini, its upper part has four LEDs that light up in reaction to our voice, volume change, power-up or activity of the Assistant. Echo Dot instead has an LED headband that runs along its entire upper edge and is more attractive, so at a glance we can see if it is active. This is especially useful if we are not close to the device since it guarantees us to know that it is listening to us.

Comparative table of characteristics

Because there is no better way to bring out details such as measurements, weights, ports or connections, we have thought that a good table will be the ideal to start explaining this section:

Initially, something that draws our attention significantly is the difference in weight, the Echo Dot being almost twice as heavy as the Google Home Mini. Also noteworthy is the detail that Echo Dot allows you to connect speakers through a Jack port, while with Home Mini we can only do it via Bluetooth. We can consider that it is a point in favor since it is likely that many of us have speakers that do not have such technology, so the Jack 3.5 input is appreciated.

In the reproduction, we can see that Google Home Mini recognizes more audio formats than its opponent Echo Dot. The difference in the size and power of the speakers is also very tight, although when it comes to microphones Echo Dot comes out ahead with two of advantage. This is relevant given that long-distance microphones are what allow the device to hear us without being forced to approach or raise our voices excessively.

Installation and use

In both cases, the installation and commissioning of the devices is very similar. Once we plug them into the power and they are activated, the steps guide us through their respective applications: Alexa and Google Home. We must create or link an account and facilitate actions such as voice recognition or start the wizard with a first action. Once done we will have at our disposal the catalog of tasks and advanced personal settings to manage at our pleasure. Which brings us to the next point: Google Assistant VS Alexa.

Google Assistant VS Amazon Amazon

One of the highlights of the comparison, and is that although the design of the devices is also important here, those who command are the virtual assistants who manage them. On the one hand, Google Home Mini works through Google Assistant while Echo Dot is managed with Amazon's Alexa. The administration in both devices from the application is very similar, in them we find a main menu from where to access all the navigation options.

What can these assistants do for us? Well, the truth is that almost everything, but in summary we can say that they work as a centralized administrator from the device that can perform functions if we link it to other smart devices in the house (television, speakers, light bulbs, blinds…). They are totally responsive through voice control and can also be used from our smartphone or tablet.

We have a guide on the functions of the google assistant: OK Google: how to activate it and list of commands.

They can play music, perform searches, reminders, routines, lists, alarms, timers... The options are very diverse and all of them revolve around the concept of making life more comfortable for the user. The devil is in the details, so let's take a closer look at both devices before jumping to conclusions.

We have a very complete article about Google Home Mini and all its functions: Configure Google Home Mini STEP by STEP.

A study by Loup Ventures conducted to test the three strongest current attendees on the market sheds some light on the accuracy and quality of responses and directions from all of them: Apple's Siri, Google Assistant, and Amazon's Alexa.

Table of answers answered correctly in the Loup Ventures study

The conclusion mostly favors the Google Assistant obtaining very good results in the local information, commerce, navigation and information sections. We can consider that the giant with glasses wins in this round, but we must not forget that all attendees are constantly updating and developing and that this may change in the future.

What Google Home Mini VS Echo Dot offers

Google Home Mini is the first of its series in a reduced version. In it we find a different inspiration, where everything is smooth and curved, organic. Its fabric mesh completely covers the device, saving the non-slip plastic of its base. Google makes a conscious effort to hide everything that is not essential. There are no buttons except for the mute microphone and even the plug is circular following the same design premises. In short, with regard to design, there is a care for detail that is commensurate with its price.

Echo Dot, on the other hand, is the third of its kind. Amazon has had more than enough time to polish and refine its product from design issues to microphones and speakers. Its audio improvement over the Echo Dot 1 and 2 is especially remarkable when the volume is at maximum. Echo Dot retains the function buttons on its top cover and may become more understandable to people unfamiliar with the touch environment.

Conclusions from Google Home Mini VS Echo Dot

Eliminating the physical differences in design, which are always more subject to personal preference, the management of both assistants is quite similar. In the end, each one sweeps towards his house and it is common that we find either of them favoring products from his own house (YouTube Music, Amazon Music, etc.) despite having compatibility with almost all other possible devices.

In the end it totally depends on our approach when creating our Smart House. Both Google and Amazon offer a family of devices designed for it. Google Home has its equivalent in Amazon Echo, Echo Dot in Google Home Mini and Google Home Hub in Echo Show. If we already have some of these devices at home, it can make life easier for us to expand the line with the same company since it offers greater convenience when it comes to linking them together.

Definitely:

The sound quality is very similar. Google Home Music is clearer and has an equalizer and sound regulator, but the maximum volume of the Echo Dot is higher. Regarding microphones, Echo Dot has two more compared to Google Home Mini. Only the Google Assistant supports Google Music, YouTube Music or YouTube Red. Only with Alexa can we listen to Amazon Music or Prime Music. The Google Assistant responds to more than a million commands, while Alexa has about 50, 000 SKILLS. About these data we must say that both companies subject the devices to constant updates, so the numbers will always tend to grow in both cases. In addition to Bluetooth, in Echo Dot we find a 3.5mm Jack port to connect speakers, something that Google Home Mini lacks. In comparison, the price of Echo Dot is more affordable than the Google Home Mini If you are already a user of other services Google as Gmail, Google Calendar or an Android smartphone, the Assistant linked to the device can provide us with a service more tailored to our needs. For lovers of minimal , the clean design of Google Home Mini is the answer. Instead, a more analog audience will make better use of an Echo Dot, both offering plenty of compatibility with a wide variety of third-party devices, though Google is still somewhat behind Amazon in terms of business deals. Regarding streaming services, if you are an Amazon Prime user for series or music, obviously Echo Dot is your goal. For YouTube Music or Google Music, you must have Google Home Mini. With Netflix Google also offers many linking facilities per account.

Related to Google Home Mini VS Echo Dot, you may be interested:

Amazon Echo and the family of speakers with Alexa arrive in Spain Google Home Mini Review in Spanish (Complete analysis)

We cannot say that there are enough turning points with which from Professional Review we can encourage you to choose one model over the other. Their characteristics or applications are both very diverse and constantly expanding, so our main advice is to choose depending on the type of use you want to make of them or if you already have other services from either of the two companies in your home.